Charles J Hughes Ranch Airport

Big Lake, US πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Closed Airport

ICAO

US-10645

IATA

-

Elevation

2520 ft

Region

US-TX

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 31.4188Β° N, -101.482002Β° E

Continent: NA

Type: Closed Airport

Keywords: 74XS

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

External Links

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Airport Information

Technical Information

For Aviation Geeks

Designation Length Width Surface Status
16/34 4700 ft 50 ft TURF Active

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 26, 2025
Closure Date

The airport does not have a formal, documented closure date. Analysis of historical satellite imagery suggests it fell into disuse and was gradually abandoned sometime between 2006 and 2012. The primary owner and pilot, Charles J. Hughes Jr., passed away in 2015, which effectively made the closure permanent. It is now listed in aviation databases as 'Closed Indefinitely'.

Reason for Closure

The closure was due to private reasons, not for military, commercial, or safety-mandated purposes. As a private ranch airstrip, its existence was tied to its owner, Charles J. Hughes Jr. The airport was likely abandoned after he was no longer able to fly due to age or health. Its closure is a direct result of it no longer serving its original private purpose.

Current Status

The site is currently part of the private ranch land it once served. Satellite imagery of the coordinates (31.4188, -101.482002) shows the faint, overgrown, and deteriorated outline of the former runway. The land is completely reclaimed by nature and is unusable as an airfield. The surrounding area remains active with ranching and extensive oil and gas operations, evidenced by numerous well pads and access roads.

Historical Significance

The Charles J. Hughes Ranch Airport was a private-use airfield serving the extensive Hughes Ranch in Reagan County. Its significance was purely local, providing air access for the ranch's owner, a known pilot. Operations would have consisted of general aviation activities, likely involving light, single-engine aircraft used for personal transportation, business related to ranching or local oil interests, and recreation. The airfield featured a single unpaved dirt/turf runway (approximately 3,400 feet long, oriented north-south) typical for a private ranch strip in West Texas.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Charles J. Hughes Ranch Airport. As a private field built for a specific individual who is now deceased, there is no public or commercial interest in its restoration. It is considered permanently closed and will likely remain as undeveloped ranch land.

Nearby Airports

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~24 km away
Reagan County Airport
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Crossroads Airport
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Bruton Aerial Spraying Airport
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Evridge Farms Airport
94TT
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~32 km away
Second F Airport
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~36 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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